Automatic grain-weighing machine



'(N o Model.)

. 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

C. WAIS. AUTOMATIC GRAIN WBIGHING MAGHINB.

Patented Many .2, 1882.

(No Mode1.)- 2 sheets-sheet 2. of WAIS. AUTOMATIC GRAIN WBIGHING MACHINE. No. l257,418. Patented 'May 2,1882..

j A A m @A UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHRISTIAN VVAIS, OF NEWTIORT, KENTUCKY, ASSICNOR TO SIMPSON 8a GAULT, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

AUTOMATIC GRAIN-WEIGHING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part ot" Letters Patent No. 257,418, dated May 2, 1882.

(No model.)

To all whom tt may concern Beit known that I, CHRISTIAN Wars, a citizen ot'the United States, and a. resident of Newport, in thecountyot' Campbell and State ot' Kentucky', have invented certain new and uscl'ul Improvements in Automatic Grain- \Veighing Machines, ot' which the following is a specification.

lMy invention relates to an improvement in an automatic grain weighing or measuring machine, and it relates more particularly to that class which employ a pivotcd bucket suspended on a weighted scale-beam having automatically-operating gates to open and close the hopper-bottom bucket. f

It will not be necessary for me to describe iu detail the general features of this machine, asthey are fully set forth in my application for Letters Patent ot' the United States tiled July 5, 1881.

The main object ot my invention is to provide a brake mechanism for retarding the operation or movement ot' the scale-beanra sutticient length of time to permit the complete emptying of the bucket.

rIhe various features of my invention will be fully set forth in the following` description ot' the accompanying drawings.

Figure l is a longitudinal elevation ot' my improved grain-weigher, with Ithe lower por` tion ot' the receiving -hopper shown broken O, and showing the position ot' the weighing` devices and brake mechanism when the bucket is filling. Fig.2isa rcarend viewot the same. Fig. 3 is a central sectional elevation of a portion ot' the brake mechanism with the conducting-pipes and operating mechanism removed. Fig. 4 is an elevation ot the weights and suspending-rod, showing their surrounding cover in cross-section. Fig. 5 is a betteln plan view of the weight-cover, showing` the device for adjustably securing it in position. Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view on line .fr x, Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is an elevation ot' the grooved weight for operation in connection with the brake devices. FigzSisan elevation ot' the valve which controls the operation ot' the brake mechanism by its trip-lever connection with the scalebeam, which is shown broken oit'. Fin'. 9 is a. vertical central section ot' the valve shown in Fig. 8. Fig. l0 is au elevation ot' a modified t'orm ot weighted trip-lever, secured on one end ot' the valve-stein, and showing its operative connect ion with thescale-beam, which is shown in transverse section. Fig. 1l is a vertical longitudinal section ot' the valve on line y y, Fig. 9. Fig. 12 is an elevation ot' the upper rear end ot'the machine, showing the construction and arrangement ot' the preferred form ot' devices for mounting and operating the indicater.

A A represent thc frame of the machine.

B represents the hopper or dischargechute in which the grain is dumped from the weighing devices.

B represents the feed-spout.

C represents the weighing or measuring bucket, provided with cars or straps o c, by which it is suspended on knife-edge bearings on the forward l'orked ends ot' the scale-beam D. Scale-beam I) is pivoted on knife-bearings D D ou the frame A, and has preferably two yards, d d?, extending rearwardly.

E represents the hook weight-rod, which engages in a loopfe, at the ends of the sealeheams d el'.

E represents the weights on rod E, which are constructed, in the ordinary manner, with the open slots c.

F represents a cylindrical cover for weights E'. It is open at one end, and provided with a central slot-,Ji in the other end,whieh forms its bottom. On the lower end ot' rod E a cross-barLf, is secured, which is of the proper size and shape to pass through slot f in the bottom ot' the cover F.

F represents a tlat plate or disk, centrally perforated to slide on the rod E and to tit the top of cylinder F. In using the cover F Fl the weights E' are first placed upon the rod E with the plate Fl on top. The cylinder `F is then slid upward around the weights, with the slotf on a line with the cross-barf, which passes through the slot, and with ahalf or slight turn ot' the cylinder retains itin position. The cover F F serves to prevent the shit'ting and displacement of the weights occasioned by the shock due to the rise and fall otl the scale-beam, and as much as possible obviate the corrosion ot' the weights and the ICO lodging of grain or other matter upon or between them or in the slots c', which frequently occurs in the employment of weights in common use withouta guard or cover, which ma'- terially affects the accurate operation of the machine.

G represents a metal cylinder mounted on the frame A A', at or near the end thereof, and provided with a piston, H, and rod H', which work water-tight by means of packing h on the piston and stuftingbox h', in which the pistonrod operates vertically.

I 1' represent the upper and lower heads of the cylinder G'. rllhey are secured in place by rods or boltsg g, as shown,orin any other wellknown manner.

J represents the oritice or port in the upper head, I, of the cylinder, and J' represents a like orifice iu the lower head, l', ot' the cylinder. Through these oritices J J' the water or other fluid passes intoand from the cylinder G'.

K K'K" represent conducting or circulating pipes,in which the fluid passes to and from the cylinder G'. rlhe pipes K K' are connected with the cylinder at oritices J J' by elbows k or other suitable means, and made preferably in-seetions united by couplings 7c', as shown in Fig. 2, to facilitate the adjustment of parts when necessary. T-couplingsconnecttheeuds ot' pipes K K' with pipesK", at the upper and lower ends of which are attached supply and discharge openings governed by valves or cocks L L', of ordinary construction.

M represents a valve connecting two sections of the pipe K", and governing the circulation of fluid through the brake mechanism by its automatic connection with the weighing devices. 'lhe valve M is shown as closed in all figures in which it appears in thedrawings, 0r

lin the condition when the weighing-bucket is filling. t

M represents the rod or stem of valve M. It is extended beyond the outer face ofthe valve'shell m, on which extension a trip arm or lever, N, is secured, the preferred t'orm of which being shown in Figs. 2 and S.

N' represents aweight on the endot" lever N.

u represents a lug or arm on the lever N, near its upper end. (Shown in Fig. 2, and in dotted lines, Fig. 8.) 'Ihislng/M, when at rest, and when the valve M is closed, projects im mediately above the scale-beam d, in close proximity thereto, and is engaged by said scale-beam in its ascent,and thereby caused to swing backward, with the assistance of weight N', and open the valve t'or the circulation of the fluid through the pipes and cylinder.

n' represents an arm on the lowerend of lever N, projecting immediately below scalebeam d, which it follows in its ascent. In descending, the scale-beam dengages the arm a' and swings the weighted lever N forward, therebyv closing the valve.

The trip-leverN may be constructed as shown in Fig. lO-that is, with the two arms n. and n' arranged respectively above and below a lateral projection or lug, N", on the yard d ot' the sealebeam. The preferred form of valve is shown in Figs.2,8,9, and l1. Its shell mis composed ot' a valve-chamber, on', and a cover or plate, m", the plate m" being secured to the chamber m' by rivets or screws m3 passing through the plate and the flange m4 ou chamber m'.

0 O' represent the upper and lower ports of valve M, which preferably consist of one or more apertures, o, to permitthe gradual or slow inlet and outlet of fluid during the opening and closing of the valve. O" represents pins or studs projecting from the inner face ot' plate m" or chamber m'.

l? represents the valve proper'.

P represents the packing' around the valve AI), the whole heilig secured on the stem M' by a rivet or screw, p. rlhe valve l? oscillates in the space between the pins 0", which are at vthe proper distance apart to serve as rests or stops for the said valve ateach end of its oscillation, the packing P' on the sides thereof acting as a cushion to obviate the shock that might be occasioned by the operation of the valve mechanism. lt will be seen from the foregoing description thatit will require but a quarter of a revolution ofthe valve .P to open and close the port O, and therefore necessitate but a slight movement of the weighted triplever N. The two sections of pipe K" are suitably secured in bosses m5 on the valve-chainber m', which contains the ports 0 O'.

o'" 0"' represent stalling-boxes for the valvestem M', which are securedon screw-threaded bosses o o4 on the central outer faces of valvechamber m' and plate m".

Q represents avertieall y-reei proeatin g frame on the cylinder G. It is composed ot' twohorizontal cross-heads, Q' b", connected or united by vertical rods q q, which travel in perforations q' q', made in the tlanges or heads I l ot' the cylinder G'.

q"represents a boss on the under side ofcross head Q,in which the upper` end of pistou-rod H is rigidly secured, with its extreme upper end extending a little beyond the upper face ot' cross-head (9,'.

q" represents a regulating-screw turned een trally into the bottom ot' cross-head O".

It represents a horizontal lever, pivoted at or near its center in a bracket or box, r. The free end t" ot' lever t rests against the screw q, which regulates the distance of its movement. At the opposite end, 1'", of lever R is pivoted a vertical rod, l', which moves in a perforated guide arm bracket, P". lThe upright guide-braclret R" is provided with a t'oot, t", by which it is secured, by means of a bolt or otl:e1wise,on the cross-beam A' of frame A.

S represents a horizontal lever, hinged at one' end, s, on au upright bracket-arm,s',which is secured to the cylinder-head I. lhe other end of the lever S is bent over to form a slot, S', in which travels a circular weight, S", the extreme end of the metal forming the slot being united with the main body ol" the lever by a curved tie-bar,s",ad iustably secured in posi tion, so as to permitthe entrance and retrieval IOO IIO

of weight S. The weight S" is of circular form, the face of its periphery being centrally grooved, as shown at s, Fig. 7, which groove engages the inner sides of the slotted lever S. rlhe inner faces of the ends of slot S may be faced with rubber to receive theforce of weight S at each end of its movement and prevent jar or shock.

s3 represents a supplemental weight ou the free end of `lever S, acting as an accessory to traveling weight Sll and assisting to start its movement. ThebodyofleverSpassesthrough an upright slotted guide, T, which is shown as of curved form ,the lever at its center, or there about, resting and bearing upon the upper end of piston-rod H.

U represents a spring or puppet valve on the piston H. (Shown in cross-section in Fig. 3.)

u represents the stem of the valve, having a head, a', at its upper end and a valveplate, u, at its lower end.

U represents a vertical cylinder .secured in the orifice or port U" of piston H. The valvestem is mounted on a coil-spring, ug, within the cylinder U. The spring a3 rests on ashonlder, u, and serves to keep the valve-plate n up to its seat V on the under side of piston H.

a5 represents the port-holes or inlet-openings in the lower end of cylinder U for the passage of iiuid from above to below thepistou, and vice versa.

W represents a vertical rod provided preferably with an upper and lower head, w te. It passes through a perforation, @02,in the head I of cylinder G, in a direct line with the stem u of valve U.

W' represents a stuflin g box or plate secured on the inner or outerfaceof head I, and through which the rod W passes.

W2 represents a gasket, of rubber or other similar material, which is packed so closely around rod WV as to firmly grip the rod and suspend it in position for operation in connection with the valve U, and o't'er sufficient resistance to spring 'a3 to open the valve when the head u abuts head w on the rise of the pistou H at the completion of its upward stroke, and permit the passage ot' fluid from below to above the piston for slowing the .operation of the piston and the weighted lever S, bearing upon its rod H', when closing the gates ot' the weighing-bucket,ready for filling.

X, Fig. 12, represents the preferred construction ot frame for mounting and operating the indicator X', provided for registering the amount of grain weighed or passed through the machine.

Y Y represent uprights or posts secured in the cross-beam A ot' frame A. The indicator X is mounted on the upper ends thereof.

Y"Y represent cross bars or ties binding the uprights Y Y. The cross-bar Y is centrally perforated, at which point a boss, y', is constructed for the passage of the vertical rod It', which, when in operation, engages a cross.- bar, Z, connecting the yards d d ofthe scale This lever engages the scale-beam D on its as' cent when the bucket is discharging.

The operation of the brake mechanism is as follows: While the weighingbucket is filling, the various operating parts of the machine are in the position shown in the drawings. When the bucket is full or has the requisite amount of grain in it and ready for discharging, the scale-beam D rises at its rear end, the yard cl coming in contact with the arm u on lever N, which moves backward, thereby opening the valve M and permitting the circulation of fluid through the pipe I upward, and from thence through pipe K into the cylinder G, and the weight S, rolling to one end ofthe slot S in the lever S, causes the piston and frame Q to descend, when the screw g3 at the lower end ot' the frame will act upon the lever It, thereby causing the rod It' to rise, so that it can be struck and forced down by the beam in its downward travel when the bucket at the other end ofthe beam is rising, and by these means the said rod is retarded in its fall by the delay mechanism, so as to retard the scalebeain in its fall. When the bucket is empty the weights E on the end of the scale-beam bear, through the agency of yard d or crossbar Z, ony rod R', and it in turn operates lever R, which is in contact at its end rv with the regulating-screw gf on traveling frame Q, and raises the piston, thereby causing the valvestem H' to lift the lever S. The weight S" then rolls back to its former position. At the same time the yard d engages the arm a' on the lower end of lever N, moving the lever forward, and thereby closes the valve and the ci rculation of tluid through the pipes. The bucket C is then raised in position for filling, with its gates closed. Fluid is fed into the pipes and cylinder through the inlet on top of pipe K by opening cock L. It may be discharged, when necessary, by opening cock L at the lower end of the pipe K". f

While I have shown the invention as combined with a single rising and falling bucket having gates to open and close the same, it is obvious that this invention can be used with any weighing or measuring device which enr ploys a rising and' falling scale-beam to trip the valves and stop and start the discharging and filling operation ot the bucket. It may be applied to a revolving or reciprocating bucket, as well as to the class of' automatic measuring' device shown and described herein.

I claim- 1. In an automatic weighing and measuring machine, the combination, with a rising and falling scale-beam and a receiving-bucket, of a fluid brake mechanism, such substantially as described, for retarding the movement of the scaleebeam a vsufficient length ot' time to per- IOO IIO

IIS

mit 'the complete emptying oi'1 the bucket, as set forth.

2. In an automatic weighing or measuring machine, the combination, with the rising and falling scale-beam and receiving-bucket suspended therefrom, of a retarding brake mechanism for the scale-beam, composed substantially of a cylinder, G', a valved piston, II H', pipes K, K', and K",and valve M, arranged for operation substantially as and for the purposes described.

3. The combination, with the scale-beam and brake mechanism composed ot' a cylinder, G', a valved' piston, H, piston-rod H', and pipes K, K', and K", and valve M, of the lever S,

resting on said piston-rod, and provided with a traveling Weight, S", a movable frame, Q, a pivoted lever, R, and a rod, R', arranged for operation substantially t s and i'or the purpose described.

4. In an automatic weighing or measuring machine, the cylinder G', having orifices J J', and valved piston H H', in combination with a vertically-movable frame, Q, and pipes K, K', and K", and valve M, arranged for operation substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. The combination of the weights E', the cover F', and the cylinder F, adapted to slide vertically over the weights,and provided with Va slotted bottom to engage and disengage a cross-bar on thev rod which is suspended from the scale-beam, substantially as described.

6. rllhe combination of the rod suspended from the scale-beam, the Weights E' thereon, and the cover F' of the removable and replaceable cylinder F, adapted to slide vertically over the weights, and means for confining it in position to cover said weights, substantially as described.

7 In an automatic weighing apparatus, the combination of the rising and falling sealebeam and the pivoted trip-lever N, haviugprojeetin g lugs or arms a a', arranged to be acted on by the scale-beam, with the valve Il, the shell m, having the ports O 0', the pins or stops O", the stem M', on which the valve is mounted between the stops, and the pipes K", sai-d members being organized for operation substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto Set my hand in the presence ot' two subscribing witnesses.

CHRISTIAN WAIQ.

Witnesses: JOHN E. JONES, EUGENE L. FIRNKoEss. 

